Information on this black colored variation of the common Crystal Red Shrimp.

Wine Red Shrimp

Information on this Red colored variation of Taiwan Bee Shrimp

Shadow Panda Shrimp

Information on the Shadow Panda variation of Taiwan Bee Shrimp

Panda Shrimp

Information on the Panda variation of Taiwan Bee Shrimp

Black King Kong Shrimp

Information on this black colored variation of Taiwan Bee Shrimp

Blue Jelly Shrimp

This is a bright blue Neocaridina shrimp bred from blue rili shrimp.

African Filter Shrimp

Information on this large filter feeding shrimp from Africa.

Amano Shrimp

Information on this very popular shrimp. Its name comes from Takashi Amano, the creator of ADA, who used these shrimp for algae eating purposes. It cannot breed in pure freshwater.

Bamboo Shrimp

Information on this wild caught species which is a filter feeder. It is very common to find in most pet stores and online. It is not possible to breed this species in pure freshwater.

Black Tiger Shrimp

Information on this elusive all black color variation of the common Tiger Shrimp. Its all black coloration is from selective breeding to widen the black stripes of the common Tiger Shrimp.

Blue Bee Shrimp

Information on this newly introduced species to the hobby. Not much is known and they are caught in the wild. Captive breeding is possible.

Blue Pearl Shrimp

Information on this beautiful blue colored species of the wild N. zhangjiajiensis shrimp.

Blue Tiger Shrimp

Information on this blue coloration variation on the common Tiger Shrimp. It is expensive and sometimes hard to find.

Tangerine Tiger

Information on the Tangerine Tiger Shrimp.

Super Tiger Shrimp

Information on this variation on the common Tiger Shrimp. Easy to keep and a beautiful shrimp

Cardinal Shrimp

Information on the very popular shrimp from Sulawesi Indonesia. Its colors are awesome.

Crystal Red Shrimp

Information on this extremely popular, difficult, expensive, and complex shrimp species. Selectively bred for coloration and other features.

Dark Green Shrimp

Information on this beautiful dark green colored shrimp. Its eggs are a nice lime green which really make this shrimp stand out. Its true scientic name and genus are in question.

Ghost-Glass-Grass Shrimp

Information on this wild caught and extremely cheap freshwater shrimp. It carries many different names and can be found in most pet stores. It is considered a feeder shrimp for freshwater aquarium fish.

Golden Bee Shrimp

Information on this all white relative of the Crystal Red Shrimp, Bee Shrimp, Orange Bee Shrimp and others. It is nicely colored but little is known as to its origin.

Harlequin Shrimp

Information on this specific species of shrimp found in Sulawesi Indonesia.

Malaya Shrimp

Information on this newly introduced and soon to be common species of shrimp.

Neocaridina Heteropoda Shrimp

Information on this wild caught grandfather of the selectively bred species Red Cherry Shrimp and Yellow Shrimp. There may be other selectively bred color variations unknown to the hobby at the moment.

Orange Bee Shrimp

Information on this wild species and the grandfather of the Crystal Red Shrimp, Bee Shrimp and others. Can be rare and hard to find.

Orange Sakura Shrimp

This is a color morph of the common Neocaridina species Red Cherry Shrimp

Rili Shrimp

This is a color morph of the common Neocaridina species Red Cherry Shrimp

Purple Zebra Shrimp

Information on this wild caught species. Unfortunately it cannot breed in pure freshwater and has slowly disappeared from the hobby as a result.

Red Cherry Shrimp

Information on the most common and most popular shrimp in the hobby. This is the ultimate beginners shrimp and most hobbyists begin with this species before venturing into more difficult/expensive shrimp.

Fire Red Shrimp

This is a variant of the Red Cherry Shrimp, it is bred for a deep red color and has several grades.

Red Tiger Shrimp

Information on this red color variation of the common Tiger Shrimp. This color variation is apparently found in the wild and not selectively bred.

Red Tupfel Shrimp

Information on this very rare and almost impossible to find shrimp in the hobby. Hopefully it will someday become more available.

Snowball Shrimp

Information on this beautiful all white selectively bred shrimp. Its name comes from its eggs which are all white resembling snowballs.

Sulawesi Shrimp

A gallery of photos of many different kinds of Sulawesi Shrimp from Indonesia. Newly introduced to the hobby in late 2007.

Tiger Shrimp

Information on this somewhat common shrimp. It is the less rare variation than its cousins: Blue Tiger, Red Tiger, Golden Eye and others.

White Bee Shrimp

Information on this elusive and very rare species of Bee Shrimp. It is definitely a cool looking shrimp.

Yellow Shrimp

Information on this selectively bred shrimp from the wild N. Heteropoda species. It breeds very well.

"Cambarellus montezumae" Crayfish

Information on care and breeding of this crayfish species.

"Cambarellus patzcuarensis" Crayfish

Information on care and breeding of this crayfish species.

"Procambarus acanthophorus" Crayfish

Information on care and breeding of this crayfish species.

"Procambarus allenii" Crayfish

Information on care and breeding of this commonly blue colored crayfish species.

"Procambarus clarkii" Crayfish

Information on care and breeding of this popular crayfish species which comes in several different colors.

"Procambarus cubensis" Crayfish

Information on care and breeding of this crayfish species.

"Procambarus enoplosternum" Crayfish

Information on care and breeding of this crayfish species.

"Procambarus sp. marble" Crayfish

Information on care and breeding of this crayfish species.

"Procambarus pubescens" Crayfish

Information on care and breeding of this crayfish species.

"Procambarus spiculifer" Crayfish

Information on care and breeding of this crayfish species.

"Procambarus toltecae" Crayfish

Information on care and breeding of this crayfish species.

"Procambarus vasquezae" Crayfish

Information on care and breeding of this crayfish species.

"Procambarus versutus" Crayfish

Information on care and breeding of this very cool colored species of crayfish.

Apple Snail

Information of the most common snail found in pet stores, the Apple Snail. Are they good or bad for a shrimp tank?

Malaysian Trumpet Snail

Information on the common Malaysian Trumpet Snail. They are great for all aquariums given several reasons.

Zebra Nerite Snail

Information on the beautiful Zebra Nerite Snail.

Pond Snail

Information on the common pond snail. They are not bad snails and are in fact good for any kind of tank especially shrimp-only tanks.

Ramshorn Snail

Information on the Ramshorn Snail including the different color variations and population control.

Sulawesi Snails

Photos of the various species of Sulawesi Snails. There are more species than are pictured as well.

Aegla sp. argentina

Species Info on care and breeding of this non-crab, non-shrimp creature.

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Acclimating New Shrimp:

Information on how to properly acclimate your newly arrived shrimp to your tank.

Are Hydra Harmful to Shrimp?

Information on the unwelcomed Hydra in the freshwater aquarium including ways to prevent and remove them.

N. zhangjiajiensis: It's colors

Information on this wild species and the many selectively bred color morphs that have evolved from it.

Packing a Winter Shipment

Information on how to successfully pack shrimp for a wintertime shipment. Keeping the shrimp warm is very important.

Red Cherry Shrimp Hatching

A rare photographic glimpse of a baby Red Cherry Shrimp hatching from an egg.

Information on the N. Palmata

The orange coloration is actually the shrimp being infected with Acanthocepala.

Artificially Hatching Eggs

Information on how to successfully hatch isolated eggs. Great method if you have a pregnant female die who has eggs.

Breeding Softwater Shrimp

Information on how to successfully breed shrimp that require soft water. Tips and advice from user Kenshin.

Babaulti Shrimp: Mislabeled

Information on how the Babaulti Shrimp variety is commonly mislabeled as different types of shrimp which vary in color. Good to know.

The Crystal Red Shrimp Grading Guide

Information on grading the Crystal Red Shrimp. Includes information on how to identify specific features and what makes the grade.

Do-It-Yourself Shrimp Trap

A how-to for making a homemade shrimp trap. Instead of chasing your shrimp with a net, let them do the work themselves.

Is it safe to dose fertilizers in a shrimp tank?

An article about dosing fertilizers in a tank with shrimp. What is too much? What will kill them? Is it ok?

Are the shrimp naturally colored or dyed?

An experiment conducted to see if imported shrimp are naturally colored or dyed by the supplier. Great article.

Safe Tankmates for Shrimp

Information regarding what tankmates are safe for shrimp and what will definitely eat your shrimp. Very important.

Setting up a Shrimp Tank

Information about setting up a new shrimp tank including details on exactly what should and shouldn't be used. Great info for beginners.

Shipping Inverts

General information about shipping inverts. Proper packaging, insulation, heatpacks, etc. Great info for all hobbyists.

Shrimp and Leaf Litter

Information about using leaf litter in a shrimp tank. Do shrimp do better with leaf litter? What leaves to use?

Shrimp Myths vs Truth

What is true and what is false about shrimp keeping and everything related to the hobby. There are a lot of false statements out there so it is important to quell them.

Shrimp Rack Journals

Two journals on setting up a shrimp rack for keeping multiple tanks using smaller space. Great tutorials with both journals by both Ryan and Pedro.

Sulawesi Expedition

A Journal on the expedition conducted by Mimbon Aquarium from Germany. Photos and information about Sulawesi Indonesia as well as underwater photos of the habitat.

Water Change in the Winter

Great information by Kenshin about changing the water during wintertime. You do not want very cold water to shock the shrimp. This is a great article for those in cold weather climates.

What is that bug in my tank?

Information on the many creatures found inside a tank including planaria, hydra, and many others. Superb article by Satu in Finland.

Will these shrimp interbreed?

Information about what shrimp are ok to house together in the same tank, and which ones will interbreed creating a hybrid. Great chart for easy comparision.

Why ship young shrimp?

Information about why it is better to ship young shrimp and why it is better to buy young shrimp vs adults. Size is important when introducing shrimp to a new tank.

Awesome Close Up Photos!

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Invert Tank Gallery

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Photos by Peter Maquire

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For the Newcomer: Starting

Information for the newcomer to the hobby. How to start, what to use, what not to do.

Why Shrimp? An Editorial

What is it about shrimp thats makes the hobbyist love them so much? Great editorial.

So you want to raise Shrimp?

Great editorial on gaining knowledge before you even start keeping shrimp.

Low Tech Macro Photography

Quick tutorial on taking macro shots with a simple everyday camera and not professional equipment.

If it isn't broke: Don't fix it

An Editorial on why sometimes its best to let things stay the way they are.

Aquatic Inverts: An Overview

A great Article on the common invertebrates found in the Freshwater Aquarium Hobby.

Red Cherry Shrimp Molting

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Red Goldflake Shrimp

Another one of the cool looking shrimp from Sulawesi.

Brown Camo Shrimp

Another one of the Sulawesi Shrimp with a unique "camouflaged" coloration.

Orange Delight Shrimp

Another one of the Sulawesi Shrimp with a unique orange coloration.

Horned Nerite Snail

A beautifully colored nerite snail with unique appendages.

Tracked Nerite Snail

A red-orange colored snail with "tracks" running along its body

Zebra Nerite Snail

Information on the beautifully striped Zebra Nerite Snail.

Ninja Shrimp

Information on this rapid multi-color changing "Ninja". Many colors including black, red, brown, and more.

Shrimp Reproduction

An explanation of the reproduction cycle of a Freshwater Aquarium Shrimp.

Killing Planaria and Hydra

Use Fenbendazole to kill Planaria and Hydra without harming your Freshwater Aquarium Shrimp.

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Cardinal Shrimp | Caridina sp. "Cardinal"

Cardinal Shrimp

Caridina sp. "Cardinal"

Overview

New to the shrimp hobby, the Cardinal Shrimp is fast becoming one of the most sought after shrimp. It is magnificent in person with either a dark rose red coloration or a lighter red coloration with white dots running along the side of the shrimp. Photos do not do justice, you must see this species in person. It is not a beginner's species and only experienced hobbyists should attempt to keep this species.

Background

The Cardinal Shrimp is from Sulawesi, Indonesia. Sulawesi is one of the islands encompassing the country of Indonesia. The Cardinal Shrimp is caught in one of several lakes in Sulawesi. I highly suggest that you read the article Sulawesi Expedition for detailed information on Sulawesi as well as more information on is habitat. There are also underwater photos of the lake system.

Water Parameters

As with all Sulawesi Shrimp it is highly recommended that you keep the Cardinal Shrimp in a temperature of at least 78F. Anything lower can kill this species. It is also recommended that you keep this species in a tank with hard water and a ph of no less than 7.0.

I am currently keeping the Cardinal Shrimp in the same tank with a few other species from Sulawesi. The tank consists of ADA Amazonia substrate, a temperature of 84F and a pH of 7.0. Some have stated that the low ph of 7.0 due to the ADA Amazonia is not good for this species. Right now I disagree. All of the Sulawesi Shrimp that I currently house are doing very well in this setup and so far even the babies are doing very well. The babies are constantly picking away for food which is of course a good sign.

A lot of hobbyists attempt to replicate the environment of the Cardinal Shrimp by using rocks for aesthetics and algae surfaces. If you read the article Sulawesi Expedition you will notice that the Cardinal Shrimp lives in the rocks and picks at them for food. There are also those who use coral chips or similar to raise the water hardness. Sand is also a common choice to use in the aquarium.

Breeding

Breeding is done in complete freshwater, not salt or brackish water is required whatsoever. There is no larval stage. The adult females carry the eggs until they hatch, producing miniature shrimp. There have been hobbyists that have had pregnant Cardinal Shrimp in captivity and some have had the eggs hatch successfully as well. Several breeders have had good success breeding the Cardinal Shrimp and it is apparently not as difficult as some may think.

The females carry roughly 10-15 eggs. It takes approximately 20-30 days for the eggs to hatch. The babies immediately show the same color as the adults. The growth rate of the babies is fast as well. If the tank is in good shape then the babies will grow almost as fast as some of the Neocaridina Shrimp. For more information on the reproduction cycle of freshwater aquarium shrimp please read the article Shrimp Reproduction.

I was lucky to receive some pregnant Cardinal Shrimp from overseas. The pregnant ones from the wild hatched their eggs and now I have baby Cardinals all over the place. They are doing very well and I hope to have them grow to adulthood and reproduce in pure captivity. I will update as time progresses.

Baby Cardinal Shrimp

Appearance

The Cardinal Shrimp can have different shades of red, from dark to light red. The darkness of the red coloration is variable and is not an indicator of health, sex, or anything else. The red coloration is also contrasted by white dots throughout the body. Some of the white dots appear to have a blue outline to them. One of the coolest features of the Cardinal Shrimp is its front white legs. The white legs move rapidly when the shrimp is feeding and also sets this species apart from the other Sulawesi Shrimp. The photo below show a more zoomed in look at their white legs. The video below also shows the white legs in motion.

Behavior

The Cardinal Shrimp is not a shy species at all. It will constantly forage on the bottom and seems to prefer scraping rocks. The majority of the Cardinal Shrimp I have observed seem spend almost all of their time on the algae covered rocks or sides of the glass picking away. It is not an agressive species whatsoever and seem to enjoy other species in the same tank. Some breeders have also reported that the Cardinal Shrimp seem to be more active when Sulawesi Snails are introduced to the tank. Perhaps this makes them feel more at home with the snails found in their wild environment. They will also pick at the snails' shell.

Feeding

I feed all of the Sulawesi Shrimp, including the Cardinal Shrimp, the same as I feed all of the other shrimp I keep. I feed mostly Shirakura food and The occasional algae water or other invert food. This species will eat at all times of the day but I believe that they prefer to eat at night when they feel safe. I have noticed that when the lights are off they will come out and eat better than when the lights are on.

Feeding is best done once a day. Only feed an amount of food that the shrimp can finish within 2-3 hours maximum. It is not good to feed in excess and have food sitting for too long. Overfeeding is a known cause of death and can also cause water quality issues. Remember that shrimp are scavengers in the wild. They will eat whatever they find and are not used to a constant food source 24/7. Not feeding for one or two days is fine and will not harm this species at all. Sometimes I will not feed for a couple of days in order to let the shrimp cleanse their systems and keep the water clean at the same time.

Sexing

Sexing of the Cardinal Shrimp is difficult and so far no one has fully figured out how to do so with the naked eye. The females have a saddle showing eggs underneath the carapace but the only way to actually see the saddle is with an infrared light. The outside shell of the Cardinal Shrimp is so dark that you cannot possibly see the saddle without special equipment. As far as using the principle of the other shrimps species, meaning females are larger and have a curved underbelly, does not apply to the Cardinal Shrimp unfortunately. Males and females seem to look exactly the same.